A case for - and against - outsourced expertise - Joel Alderden

A case for - and against - outsourced expertise.

Probably half the posts on successful leadership reference one basic concept. Get out of your own way. Decide the parts you - and the team around you can best play. Then, fill the gaps.

Like a lot of catchy statements around leadership, startups, scaling etc- it could do with some nuance - to avoid being a trap of it's own.

Your ‘gaps’ are likely to be 1 of 4 types:

Short term, high priority - infrequent or non-recurring
Areas you should hire for - indispensable, long term
Areas you could probably cover, if it makes sense
And lastly - not full time (maybe ever), but where you need maximum impact, over an extended time, for a lesser outlay. Enter the fractional.

Some of the most beneficial outsourcing opportunities:

Finance- bookkeeping, tax, payments, payroll. All table stakes- not to be messed with. Knowing how you make margin, why, where…and better, what to do about it- that’s how you grow.
Strategy- not a synonym for expensive consultants. A simple, clear, written plan. One that serves you and keeps you honest when shiny things beckon
Reporting - almost no one suffers from a lack of data now. More likely to drown in volume, or struggle to make sense of it
Inventory & production Planning - effective planning is an art and a skill. One that can prevent expensive mistakes, and uncover opportunities.
Supply Chain - a complexity across every facet that seems almost designed to confuse and trap even the most seasoned veterans

The list goes on. The risk - in a flash you've a quasi payroll of hired help, costing $ and requiring as much bandwidth as DIY.

So, a few callouts - whilst remaining firmly pro-fractional - in order to avoid death by a thousand day rates:

Recommendations are gold- but not a guarantee. One size doesn't fit all. Test against your needs.
Seek efficiency- leverage skills that help you solve multiple challenges in multiple areas
Be clear on expectation. Don’t let scope creep become your burden
Balance your load - neither a completely 'hands off' approach, nor one which monopolises your attention will serve well, long term
Lastly - there are likely things you're better off doing with your existing resources. Risk, familiarisation time, complimentary skills, general interest - all factors.

Be wary of help which doesn’t actively question its own relevance. One that tailors a package to fit your requirements. Not the inverse.

At sc3sixty, we’ve built a fractional network to help consumer product organisations achieve their goals. We span: